ST. ALBANS, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- A car alarm might not be on your Christmas list, but police said it should be near the top.

There have been about 20 car break-ins in the last 10 days in St. Albans. No place has been safe from this type of crime, not even in a church parking lot.

The Rev. Chris Kilbert of Riverlawn Church said a thief came to his church Sunday night but not to repent. Instead, he broke a car window and ran off with a purse and cell phone.

"My first reaction was shock and surprise," Kilbert said.

Police said thieves are taking whatever they can find, including wallets, CD carriers and hand tools.

"We always see an influx of it this time of year," St. Albans Police Chief Joe Crawford said.

Police said thieves are getting their hands on the goods without much effort.

"They walk by and look and try the doors," Crawford said. "They'll get in and pilfer through the vehicle and then take whatever they want."

Police said to remember to lock your car doors and store your valuables out of sight. Kilbert said he plans to take that advice a step further by having some church members patrol the parking lot during service.

"The people who have to go out and do the patrolling -- they miss out on the service," he said. "Of course, we want to be able to feel safe, so it's very unfortunate."

Police also recommend car alarms to protect yourself. If you don't have that or can't afford it, police said rely on dogs in your neighborhood to keep watch. They said often times when they get a call about a barking dog in a neighborhood, a thief is usually lurking nearby.

St. Albans police have made one arrest so far.